November 6, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Midland Park Signals will get generators Police Chief Michael Marra is working with the county to assure traffic signals in town are operable during an emergency. During Superstorm Sandy last year, he said, the town was left without function- ing signals for at least a day. Marra said the four signals in town would be outfitted with the necessary components to accept a portable genera- tor hookup in case of an extended power outage. He said the borough would pur- chase the equipment out of the capi- tal budget, and the county would do the installation at no cost to the borough. The actual generators will be stored at the DPW building until needed. He said the DPW already has two generators that can be used, but two more would have to be acquired. The chief said the borough’s proposal is now being reviewed by the county engi- neer’s office, and he is awaiting formal approval to get the job done. He explained that the county has total control over the signals and requires the use of a county- approved vendor as well. During the last borough council meet- ing, Chief Mara also reported on his department’s efforts to reduce speeding in the areas where there have been com- plaints of excessive speeding. He said increasing traffic enforcement in those areas and posting of the electronic porta- ble sign have proven to be effective tools. He said often drivers are surprised to see their actual speed on the sign and natu- rally slow down when they realize they were speeding. Councilman Jack Considine said offi- cers should “take a harder line on speed- ers,” issuing summonses rather than just verbal warnings. “People get the impres- sion it’s just a game; we ought to enforce a lot more,” Considine said. Marra noted that officers use discretion in the issuing of summonses, taking into consideration whether it’s a first offense and the severity of the violation. He said in the areas of recent concern, Highwood Avenue, Franklin Avenue and Greenwood Avenue, radar checks on a number of occasions showed that 85 per- cent of the drivers were doing 29, 32 and 28 mph, respectively. He acknowledged, however, that drivers do have a tendency to slow down when an officer is present.